but now he must see men.” The African magician then took his leave of the mother and the son, and retired.
Aladdin rose early the next morning, dressed himself to be ready, and after he had waited some time began to be impatient and stood watching at the door; but as soon as he perceived his uncle coming, he told his mother, took his leave of her, and ran to meet him.
The magician caressed Aladdin, and said: ‘‘Come, my dear child, and I will shew you fine things.” He then led him out at one of the gates of the city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building he came to, he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth was ready to answer when any one presented itself, crying out: “Here is a finer house, uncle, than any we have seen yet.” By this artifice, the cunning magician led Aladdin some way into the country; and as he meant to carry him farther, pretending to be tired, he took an opportunity to sit down in one of the gardens on the brink of a fountain of clear water, which discharged itself by a lion’s mouth of bronze into a basin: “Come, nephew,” said he, “you must be weary as well as I; let us rest ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk.”
After they had sat down, the magician pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes and fruit, which he had provided, and laid them on the edge of the basin. He broke a cake in two, gave one half to Aladdin and ate the other himself; and in regard to the fruit, left him at liberty to take which sort he liked best. During this short repast, he exhorted his nephew to leave off keeping company with vagabonds, and seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve by their conversation; “For,” said he, “you will soon be at man’s estate, and you cannot too early
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